Giants 2013 Roster: Four Tough Spots To Call

I’ve been thinking a lot about what the Giants opening roster will look like against the Cowboys. The toughest spots to call are:

1. Defensive Line
2. Secondary
3. Wide Receiver
4. Running Back

We can expect to see SOMETHING interesting happen at QB, but my guess is that Nassib is in based upon his draft position. Any remaining surprise will be between Carr and Painter. The edge goes to Carr given his time on the team and his understanding of the offense. Eli hasn’t missed a game since around World War 1. Let’s hope that continues.

But what about the four toughest areas to call?

Defensive Line
You’d love to have this problem in the secondary… more able bodies than spots available. Still, after a year that saw the Giants near the bottom of almost every defensive list, there will need to be improvements for coaches and players to keep their jobs. 25th against the run, 22nd in sacks, 31st overall is not going to get it done.

So who will be there?

On the interior it will be Linval Joseph, Cullen Jenkins, Marvin Austin and Mike Patterson. Austin is still an enigma, but he’s shown enough to make the team over an aging Shaun Rogers.

Secondary
Not much has happened to make the Giants better in this area. There’s one cornerback (Amukamara) who is probably, hopefully, good. You’ve got Thomas set to make a difference, but he’ll be rusty. And you’ve got the loss of Stevie Brown, an injury to Hosley (and Sash) and the suspension of Will Hill. Yikes.

At safety, last night’s concussion for Tyler Sash complicates things. Still, he makes it and perhaps there’s another waiver move the Giants have to make to fill in. In addition to Sash, we’ll have Antrell Rolle, Will Hill and Ryan Mundy. Cooper Taylor has an outside shot, but I’m saying he doesn’t make it. Will Hill won’t count against the roster while he serves his suspension.

Wide Receiver
This one isn’t as tricky as the first two, but here goes.

In are Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Ruben Randle. Nobody will argue those.

Ramses Barden makes it. So does Louis Murphy, but Jerrel Jernigan is out.

Running Back
Based on last night’s injury to Andre Brown, you’d think he’d be on IR. But as of this writing, it’s sounding like he might be back sooner and the Giants could simply carry him on the roster.

That leaves us with David Wilson, Andre Brown, and either Da’rel Scott or Michael Cox. They may keep both. Or not. I don’t know! This is hard. Michael Cox has looked good, but I think if they have to choose they will choose Scott. (By the way, Hynoski makes it at fullback.)

There they are! The toughest calls only, not the whole team. Can’t wait to see who makes the cut.

I hope the coaches were able to find the bright spots they have been hoping for during the pre-season and the progress individually and group wise collectively. From my view of the exhibition season the team looks ‘shot’ – the games start counting now so the expectation is the team will turn it up several notches. Whatever they must do, scour the waiver wires or something; they must improve the Offensive Line talent, coaching or both. It is currently a disaster waiting to happen, big stiff guys with little movement, athleticism, or sound footwork. If we don’t see the typical 6-2 initial half of the season by TC, then we know something is drastically wrong. Unless they get the O Line going, the entire team will be negatively impacted!!